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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.Almirah Ahmed" <divinelove_001@yahoo.ca>
Reply-To: mrs.almirahahmed@live.com
Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:05:36 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Please reply to: akajiaku@live.co.uk

From Mrs. Almirah Ahmed.
Center De Santa Bethesda Hospital
83BP: 1730 Gbejromede
Cotonou Benin Republic
E-mail: akajiaku@live.co.uk
&nbsp;
Assalamualaikum,
It is with tears and pains that I write this mail from my sick bed in a hospital. I believe you have never met such a condition before. My name is Mrs.Almira Ahmed, widow to late Mr. Khalid Ahmed, former owner of PETROLEUM AND GAS Company, here in Benin Republic. I am 68 years old,suffering from long time cancer of the breast. From all indications my condition is really deteriorating and it's quite obvious that I won't live more than 2 months according to my doctors. This is because the cancer stage has gotten to a very bad stage. I don't want you to&nbsp;pity me, but I need your trust.
My late husband died in December 2003 in a plane crash inBenin, (please check, http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash/index.html) During the period of our marriage we couldn't produce any child. My late husband was very wealthy and after his death, I inherited all his business and wealth. The doctor has advised me that I will not live for more than 2 months, so I have now decided to spread all my wealth, to contribute mainly to the development of charity in Africa, America, Asia and Europe. Am sorry if you are embarrassed by my mail. I found your e-mail address as a real Child of God for over a month now that I have been investigating about you to know if really you are working according to the direction of God so after all my investigation I am convince, and I have decided to contact you, but if for any reason you find this mail offensive, you can ignore it and please accept my apology before my late husband died he was a major oil
tycoon, in Benin and deposited the sum of US$3 Million (Three Million Dollars only) in Asia years ago, That's all I have left now, I need your help to collect this funds and distribute it yourself to charity homes.So that when I die my soul will rest in peace.
The funds will be entirely in hands and management hope God gives you the wisdom to touch very many lives that is my main concern. 20% of this fund will be for your time and effort, while 80% goes to charity. Please you can reply with this email (akajiaku@live.co.uk)
&nbsp;
God bless you.
Mrs.Almirah Ahmed.


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